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Chapter 25: The Photo
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2022-06-23 14:04:48Related chapters
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 26: The Gold Digger
Emily's life developed a pleasant rhythm over the next few days. She often had dinner with Byron at his place. She even felt comfortable enough to sleep over at the penthouse in one of the guest bedrooms. The bed was so soft and comfy, Emily couldn't resist coming back night after night. She even had her own bathroom there so no awkwardness could occur. She felt completely spoiled.In the mornings and afternoons she saw her family and showed them around the city, and in the evenings she taught painting.It all came literally crashing down one day when Emily was getting ready for work after spending the night in Byron's suite. She was brushing her hair in her private bathroom when a loud crashing noise startled her. Then she heard Byron yelling out a curse, his voice filled with frustration. Rupert barked from somewhere in the living room, just as alarmed as she was.Emily rushed over to the room that served as Byron's home office. When she opened the door and found shards of plaster
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 27: The Fallout
On her way home, Emily bought a pair of sunglasses to disguise herself. The gold digger story stared at her from the front page of the Chronicle on every newspaper stand she passed. When she got home, she collapsed onto the bed, exhausted by the stress brought on by the media scandal. It didn't feel like a very long nap, but she fell into a deep sleep. A knock on the door startled her, and she got up feeling completely groggy.A short blond woman in round glasses stood in the hallway, looking grave and determined. It was her neighbor Claire, the mother of her very first art student. "I saw the article," Claire said, "and I've come to tell you that I can't have my daughter take classes from you anymore.""It's not what you think," Emily began, but she knew it would be useless to protest."I don't think Riley saw the article," Claire said, "but I can't risk her seeing stuff like this and then wondering what a gold digger is. She's too young for this!"Emily could hardly look at t
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 28: It's a Long Journey
It's a Long JourneyEmily was awakened when someone opened the blinds in her bedroom. The scorching brightness of the morning sun was more than she could handle even though her eyes were still closed."No," she protested, her voice barely working, "It's too early."She had stayed up late into the night to write the article defending her reputation, and now all she wanted to do was sleep."It's seven thirty already," Byron's voice announced cheerfully. He usually didn't enter the guest bedroom when she stayed over, and they would meet up first thing in the morning at the breakfast table, but then Emily remembered he had a trip in mind.She squinted against the light and beheld Byron looking freshly shaved and energized like some god in the golden rays of the sun."All you need to do is get dressed, and then I'll throw you in the car," he said."That sounds fun," she grumbled.He snickered evilly and left the room.Despite her tiredness, Emily liked the idea of getting out of th
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 29: You Win Some, You Lose Some
Before the kiss, Byron looked at her like he was a predator who finally caught her, but now he was the prey, helpless in her power."You're never quite sure about me," he said, "but can you at least be sure of how I feel about you?"Emily had not quite recovered from the kiss, and she was almost dazed enough to give in to whatever he wanted, as long as she could experience something like it again. "That was amazing," she said, "but I think you're asking if we can make our relationship real... and I don't know if I'm ready.""It felt real to me," Byron said, and she caught the look of despair haunting his eyes. "You still don't trust me?""I do," she said, "You've shown me that you care, but it's you I'm worried about.""What do you mean?" he asked.They stepped off the bridge, away from the tumult of the water, and sat back against a giant boulder."Byron, you try to hide it, but I know there is something troubling you," Emily said. She never expected to have the courage to ta
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 30: Her Biggest Fan
The fresh new day brought better prospects. When Emily awoke, she found a few emails already waiting for her. Three new students wanted to sign up for lessons!Emily arranged for them to come in as soon as possible, with the first one starting that same afternoon.Now that her brother was staying in the apartment, it would have been nice if she could use the studio Byron got for her, even if it wasn't fully refurbished yet, but Emily didn't know whether she was still welcome there. She texted Byron:Can I still use the studio space, or are you mad at me?Less than a minute later came the reply:Not mad at you but I want you. I can wait... take as long as you need.She should have been mad at him for insisting on his desires without even acknowledging that he needed to get help like she asked him to. But her first internal response to his words was a smoldering fire in her chest. Her feelings and hormones teamed up to agitate her body into a feverish state. The memory of
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 31: The Blues
"We suspect it's that journalist, Christine What's-her-name," Alistair said as he drove along the busy downtown street. "Byron managed to get her fired by threatening to sue the newspaper for libel. After your article came out, public opinion turned against Christine, so the newspaper probably considered her more of a liability. We're pretty sure this latest scam is her handiwork.""Dammit, I told him not to get her fired," Emily said. Traffic was stalled, and she waited impatiently in the back seat of the limo. Finally, she couldn't stand it any longer, knowing that Byron was in a state of despair. "It'll be faster if I walk," she said, jumping out while the limo was stopped at a light, "Thanks, Alistair."She strode quickly to the familiar highrise and took the elevator all the way to the penthouse, fidgeting restlessly all the way."I said I don't want to look at the numbers!" Byron shouted as she came in. He sat on the couch with his back to her, and he must have assumed
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 32: The Visitors
Emily started to sketch a picture of Rupert, illuminated by the setting sun. It helped her pass the time while she waited for Byron to come to his senses. It was probably going to take a long time since he had done nothing but drink, stare at the wall, then stare out the window. He crossed his legs, then uncrossed them and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The sound of footsteps made Emily look up. A short, prematurely balding man entered the room, looking right at home."Hey man, you haven't returned my calls. Oh, hi," he said, spotting Emily, "I'm Nathan Clarke.""That's because I didn't feel like talking," Byron said."I've been his friend since elementary school," said Nathan, "and this is how he treats me. And you must be the lovely Emily."They shook hands, then Nathan went over and patted Rupert."Do you think the situation is all that bad?" Emily asked."I don't have an inside view of the business," Nathan said, pouring himself a whisky and plopping a couple of ice
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 33: Out in the Open
Emily followed Sylvia into the next room, which was Byron's home office, and closed the door behind her. She didn't completely trust Sylvia, but at least she knew the woman was desperate to help her son in any way."It's his depression," Sylvia said. Now that she didn't have to put on a brave act in front of Byron, the worry came through on her beautiful if slightly wrinkled face."How often does that kind of thing happen?" Emily asked."Not very, but when it does, it's hard to get him out of it," Sylvia said, "Look, Emily, maybe I came across as a little too overbearing before, but I was wrong about you. You're not as stupid as you seem.""Thanks," Emily said, rolling her eyes. Since murdering Sylvia would probably be illegal and not win her any points with Byron, she decided that at least verbal fighting tactics such as sarcasm were permitted. "I'll be sure to get those words engraved on a plaque.""Don't get cheeky with me," Sylvia said, putting her hands on her hips, "If you h
Last Updated : 2022-06-23
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The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 169: The First Chapter
Emily felt such a strong current of desire running throughout her frame. It was always the most overwhelming sensation, being engulfed in the torrent of his kisses. It was one of those times when she was reminded how fierce and powerful her love for him really was. Sometimes day-to-day life interfered and made her forget that there was a man by her side who would do anything for her. When he showed how much he loved her, whether it was with grand gestures and romantic trips or simply the way he kissed her, it felt like the rebirth of a love that was too beautiful for words.Holding him in her arms and knowing how much he desired her nearly made her faint every time. It enchanted every single cell of her being, making the rest of the world a mere blur compared to the hot passion coursing through her body."I love you," she murmured as they rested in the sumptuous bed. "Thanks for always being there for me.""You don't have to thank me," he said, gazing back at her with a look fi
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 168: Chopping Wood
A few days later, Emily woke up to a grey and rainy day, but she was eager to get out of bed. It was the day of their trip. Byron was already up, pulling a tight t-shirt over his muscular torso. He looked way too awake for the earliness of the hour."Today's dress code: motorcycle gear," he said, eyes shining eagerly."It's a road trip?" Emily exclaimed."Yes indeed!"They could have flown anywhere in the world on their private jet, but for some reason Emily was more excited about a trip to the nearby mountains, just like they had always done. It reminded her of the early days of their relationship when they swiftly fell in love, and she had fallen in love with everything about this landscape too. And in some ways, not that much had changed."It's going to be a rugged journey," Byron said, "but don't worry, I've prepared some amenities at our destination.""What is that supposed to mean?" she asked."You don't need to pack too much stuff, just your basic clothes."They left t
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 167: Choices
Byron poured a lot of funds into the construction of the wave pool, and a few months later, it was built and ready for use.The building looked sleek and contemporary on the outside, while inside it was a warm oasis away from the autumn chill.Mandy swam and frolicked in the waves with her friends, stopping only to sip a bit of juice, then she was back in the water for more splashing. The high ceiling allowed natural light to come in through its numerous skylights, giving the space the ambience of a warm beach. The wave pool was definitely a hit. Emily and Byron watched the kids, lounging on deck chairs by the water."It's not quite as relaxing as a real beach, but it'll do," Byron said as the echoes of children's voices bounced around the vast space. Ripples of sunlight reflected off the water and played over his face."The kids don't seem to care if it's relaxing or not," Emily said, observing them race each other in the waves. "But as long as they're happy…""Do you think Man
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 166: Making Waves
"Can I do it when I'm six?" Mandy asked, not letting go of the idea of being on television."No," Emily said firmly."Can I do it when I'm seven?""No.""Ten?""Maybe." Emily hoped the whole discussion would be forgotten after that many years. She never wanted her child on a so-called talent show which was probably rigged anyway.Luckily, Mandy was distracted by her friend, and the two girls went to play outside."She's so talented," Katie said, "You should take her to a music academy. I'll bet she's going to be a sensation."Emily shook her head. "She's way too young. Please don't get excited. I know it seems like showing her talent to the world is a good thing, but too many child stars have started out on brilliant careers only to burn out as teenagers. I definitely don't want that for Mandy.""You're right, Talent Quest is a bit of a freak show," Katie said, "but don't you want her to at least learn as much as she can to reach her full potential?""She's got all the time i
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 165: Big Purchases
Byron took a long breath. "Okay, don't be mad at me but… I bought Charmers. And now every single branch of Charmers will carry your brand of clothing.""Byron, you promised me you wouldn't do that!" Emily was so disappointed she was hardly even tempted by the creamy pasta."I promised I wouldn't destroy them," he said, a sly smile playing about his lips, "and I don't intend to. I've even kept Simone around, though in a slightly less senior role. She couldn't be induced to resign. The woman is very stubborn, but I know you don't like us to make enemies…""So you took over the company she was running, and you don't think she'd be mad?""Not as mad as I was when you told me she dropped your products," Byron retorted, "But believe it or not she's actually okay with the takeover. Charmers were struggling financially anyway. Believe me, I did them a favor.""Well you didn't do me a favor," Emily retorted. "I didn't want you to get involved.""But—""I'm capable of solving my own probl
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 164: Not so Lucky
"I pet a big white dog!" Mandy announced when they got home.The dogs spun around the new arrivals in a furry whirlwind, and Emily was relieved to be with her four-legged friends. She was glad she hadn't brought them to work that day to be despised by Simone."That's good," Byron said, greeting Mandy and Emily with kisses."I was not so lucky," Emily said."Mommy didn't have time to play with doggie," Mandy said sadly."And on top of that, I lost a really big client…" Emily added. She took off her shoes and collapsed on the living room couch."Lady said the 'f word'," Mandy recalled. Byron raised his eyebrows. "I know I'm not allowed to say it," Mandy continued, "but she didn't know that.""What the heck happened over there?" Byron asked."Ugh! I can't even go into right now," Emily lay back on the couch and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the stress of the day. "Simone made me so mad.""Lady was silly," Mandy said."Yes, she was very silly," Emily confirmed.Byron s
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 163: The Meeting
Emily was in a playful mood the next morning. She didn't want to get out of bed, even though she had an important meeting. The date night had ended in a rather passionate episode. Mandy was already asleep by the time they got back home, and they made the most of their time. It was not exactly rare for them to have alone time, but maybe it didn't happen as often as before."You're very giggly," Byron noted. "I thought you'd be tired after last night."He was a bit sleepy but didn't mind indulging her desires when she kissed his face and body all over."Thanks for helping me feel relaxed when I should be nervous," Emily said as she got up to get dressed. "Simone Cather is coming in for a meeting today. I've never worked with her before, but I hear she can be difficult. I'm going to bring Mandy with me to win her over with cuteness."Simone had just taken over leadership of Charmers, the biggest fashion retail store in the country. Emily had a good relationship with the previous CEO
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 162: Doing "Fairly Well"
Emily was able to run some errands while Sylvia gave Mandy her first piano lesson. She was glad to have a bit of time to shop, and Sylvia insisted on not having anyone interfere in her tutelage anyway. Emily wondered how Sylvia would cope being left alone with her granddaughter. She had been out a couple of hours, and she hoped they hadn't killed each other.Contrary to her expectations, the house was quiet when she entered. Sylvia and Mandy were deep in conversation over tea and cookies."Mommy! Mommy!" Mandy ran over to greet her."How was your lesson?" Emily asked."I learned to play piano!""She did fairly well," Sylvia said. This sounded like high praise from someone who was more used to criticizing.Mandy sat down at the piano with very good posture to show Emily what she'd learned. She played Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. It was a simple piece that most kids started with, but Emily was amazed that Mandy played it so flawlessly. She kept up a steady rhythmic accompanimen
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 161: Cave Explorer
Unschooling was a little harder to commit to than Emily had imagined. She knew that there were plenty of learning opportunities for Mandy at home, but sometimes work demands, or just wanting a bit of time to herself made her reluctant to teach the kid.It was early September, and the unschooling had been going on for a week. Emily was working on her sketches in her home office while Mandy watched an educational program in the cinema room. It didn't seem like too much time had passed, but when Emily looked up from her sketch, the house felt unusually quiet. She went into the cinema room and saw that Mandy must have finished her program and dutifully turned the screen off. She was an amazingly responsible child in some respects."Mandy!" Emily called, "Where are you, Mandikins?"An eerie silence filled the large house. Emily checked all the rooms, but her daughter was nowhere to be found. Surely she wouldn't have gone outside all by herself? For a chilling moment, she thought the
